Jack Cooper. > I have just gone back and reviewed your cowling page and I was wrong about the bazillion hours, it must be at least 2 bazillion hours. I have 2 questions. The two layers of carbon fiber is very flexible so did you do anything to stiffen up the cowling or is the installation of piano hinges and installation around the firewall enough? What size of spinner are you using?<
Yes, two bazillion would be closer. I was thinking that when I read your original post. Thanks for the kind words. Two layers is a little flimsy when the two halves are not connected, so on the top I added an X shaped reinforcement one layer thick about 4" wide like you often see under the hood of your car. It turns out I didn't need it, since my cooling plenums hold it up anyway. I just didn't want it to sag under all that heat that builds up on engine shutdown. You DID use the 24 ounce per yard carbon fiber didn't you? Just kiddin'...I used 5.85 ounce, two layers, and once you add piano hinges and fasten the two halves together and to the firewall, it's plenty good enough, in my opinion. It strikes me as being bettern than my brother's C-172 cowling, anyway. It certainly won't add more than about a pound or so to make it three layers all over though, if you want it beefier. I used a 10" spinner, just because that's what KRs always use, but there's no reason why a 12 or 13 wouldn't work too. But that cowling is made for a 10". Mark Langford, Huntsville, Alabama see homebuilt airplane at http://home.hiwaay.net/~langford email to N56ML "at" hiwaay.net
